Convertible high and low chair



Feb. 5, 1952 TUTTLE 2,584,642

CONVERTIBLE HIGH AND LOW CHAIR Filed OOC. 11. 1947 INVENTOR. LAUREN T. TUTTLE ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 5, 1952 UNITED STATES FATENT orrics CONVERTIBLE HIGH AND-LOW CHAIR Lauren T. luttle, San Francisco, Calif.

. 4 Claims.

This invention relates to furniture and more particularly to a combined. .chair,.s.tool andjladder.

.Among the objects of the invention. is the provision of a kitchen accessory comprising a chair of conventional height that may be converted into a stool of greater height, for convenient use at the kitchen sink, laundry equipment and the like.

Another object is :the proyisionof such @achair assembly having a .foldable ladder therein, :for use in reaching the hi her shelves, curtain .installations and other household equipment. 7

' A further object is the provision of sucha uti ity that is IighEsturdY, comfortablqsafe and attractive, that .can be fabricated at a relatively low cost.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the .-.description progresses. In the specification and the-accompanying drawings the invention is disclosed in its preferred form, But it is to be understood that it is not limited to this form; because it may be embodied in modifications within the spirit of the .invention, as defined in the claims following the description.

' In the one sheet of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective front view of a chair assembly constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig; '2 isa similar side ,view of the same with the ladder in operative ,positiQn.

3 is ,a similar view of the same from the rear.

Rig. 4 is .a fragmentary detail, similar to Fig. 1, with the stool removed from the chair.

Rig. .5 is an enlarged detail from the side, in vertical section, showing the pin and latch engagement of the stool seat with-the chair.

In detail the structure shown in Fig. 2, com.- prises the:interspaced sides .I, 2, having the legs 3, .4, 5, .6 :andthe hackrails :1, vii, respectively. These, sides are joined in the middle of their length by the transverse seat 9, braced by blocks in thecorners beneath the seat and not visible.

The back board I is attached to the back rails I, 8 and extends upwardly from the seat 9. This back has the upper opening ll, forming a convenient handle portion 12, and the lower transverse notch, forming a slot l3 above the level of the seat 9.

The front legs are cross braced by the rung l4, and the rear legs by the rung I gained thereinto and glued respectively. The seat portion is reinforced by the front trim l6, Fig. 4, inset and glued similarly to the rungs l4, 15. This forms a strong, light and rigid chair foundation for the other elements of the assembly.

Application-October 11, 1947 ,-Se rial No. 719,296

has the central block 25,, having the stud 26 'pro-' jecting downward into the socket ll in'the'front edge of the seat 9, see Fig. 5. The front '20 of the stool rests upon and is anchoredto the seat 9 at '26, and to the back H) at 24, beneath the detent in where it remains. "The latch 20" and detent l0 lock thestool [8 in the elevated position so that it will not be displaced if the chair is lifted or moved about by grasping the stool portion of the assembly.

When itis desired to lower the stool, the user releases the spring latch 20' engaging beneath the stop 16' on the front trim l6 and grasps "the front 20, through the opening 21, lifts the stool assembly free at 2-6 and H, and lowers it to the. 7

seat level 9 and pushes the tongue 23 into the slot 13 and lowers the front until the sides 2|, 2-2 bear against the sides [,2 of the-chair frame and the stud 29 on thestool l8 enters the socket I! in the front of the seatas previously described relative to the .stud 26. This .secures the stool assembly to. the chair foundation. .The cushion 28 is attached to the top .of the stool.

The ladder element comprises .the side rails :30, 31,havingthe'friction inserts .30, 3|, in their lowerends respectively, and joined together Jay the steps 32, 33,34, in the usualmanner- These rails extend slightly above the top step .34, and have the "laterally extending pivots 35, .36, respectively extending into the.slots;31, 38 through theupper portions of thefibackrails 'I, 8. "These. vertical slots have lateral extensions, 39, .40 -re-,

spectively extending toward the back ill of the chair, into which the pivots lock when the ladder is in the extended position, as in Figs. 2, 3.

The lowest step 32 has the depending keepers 4|, 42 attached to blocks fixed beneath the step, adapted to hook over the top edge of the rung l5, into the notches provided therein. The inner edges of the side rails are recessed at 43, 44, to

pass the width of the rung 15, when the ladder,

is retracted.

The ladder is retracted by grasping beneath the top step 34 pulling it backward to clear the extensions 39, 40, then lifting the ladder, which is guided by the pivots 35, 36 in the slots 31, 38.

The ladder is then swung inwardly on these pivots and the keepers at 4|, 42 dropped over the notched top of the rung 15, which holds the ladder assembly closely telescoped within the width of the back rails 1, 8, and the rear legs 5, 6, of the chair, as in Fig. 1.

When the ladder is in the extended position, as in Fig. 3, the top step 34 is adjacent the bottom 24 of the opening II in the back of the chair, so that the toe of the user may extend beyond the front edge of the step and through the opening in the back Ill of the chair, for greater foot security.

The legs 5 and 6 have the rearward extensions 5, 6' respectively, for giving stability to thee tended ladder, as in Figs. 2 and 3, affording better support on the center ofgravity --when theuser is standing thereon.

The front legs have similar forward extensions 3, 4 respectively, preventing the chair rotating and stiffened by embossing, plastics, or any other suitable materials; in substantially the same design and mode of operation. V

I-Iaving fully'described this invention and its mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A chair having a horizontal seatand a vertical' back extending upwardly from saidseat andhaving upper and lower openings therethrough; a detachable stool having afront support, with its lower edge resting upon the front portion of said seat and having a verticalstud engaging a socket in said seat; a, tongue onthe rear edge of said stool selectively engaging within said upper and lower openings in said back;

and a latch onsaid front support engaging the.

frontportion of said seat for lockingsaid stool to saidchair, when in high-stool position, said front support extending below and in front-of said seat in the lowered position. 7

2. A chair having a seat and .a back extending upwardly from saidseat and having upper and lower openings therethrough; a detachable stoolhaving a' front supportr'a tongueon the rear of said stool selectively-engaging in said upper or lower openings in said chair back to makea high stool when said tongue engages said upper opening and a seat at chair height when said tongue engages said loweropening, said front support extending downwardly in front of said seat; a stud attached to the front lower portion of said stool. support and engaging within a socket in the forward portion of said chair seat when said stool is set up to form a high stool; a similar stud attached to the forward under portion of said stool seat to engage within said socket in the front portion of said chair seat so as to engage within said socket in the front portion of the said chair seat when said stool is nested in the down position at chair height; a latch on the lower front portion of said stool support to engage the front portion of said chair seat when said stool is in the elevated position to form a high stool; a detent on said chair back and spaced upward above the lower edge of said upper horizontal opening to receive the rear edge of said tongue when said stool is in the elevated position.

3. A chair having a seat and a back extending upwardly from said seat hav'ing upper and lower openings therethrough; a detachable stool having a front support. resting upon the front portion of said seat when in the upper position and extending below said seat when moved for-. wardly and in the lower position; a tongue at the rear of said stool selectively engaging within saidupper or lower opening in said back to establish-the upper and lowerpositions respectivelyv 4. A chair having a seat and a back extending upwardly -fromsaid. seat and having upper and 1ower-openings therethrough; adetachable upholstered stool top-forming the cushion for said seat when in chair position, a front support on said stooltop below said seat in normal chair position and supported by the front portion of said seat when-in the upper-position; a tongue on the rear of said stool selectively engaging through said upper opening in said chair back to make a high stool when said stool is elevated above said seat and engaging through said lower opening in the chair position.

LAUREN T. TUTTLE.

, REFERENCES CITEDv The following references are of record in the file Of this patent: 4' H T NliiiED STAT TFATENTQ Number Date 661,646 France Mar. 11, 1929 

